Chapter 1
From Gauteng townships to the streets
Chapter 2
The anatomy of the log drum
Chapter 3
The viral dance revolution
Chapter 4
Amapiano crosses global borders
Ch 1 · From Gauteng townships to the streets
thabo Originating in Gauteng in the mid-2010s, this style blends deep house, jazz, and kwaito to fuse local and global sounds
Quiz
In which South African province did the Amapiano genre first emerge during the mid-2010s?
BETA
thabo Trace the beats to learn how Amapiano spread from Gauteng townships to the streets.
thabo Pioneer M'du Masilela shaped the slow-tempo groove that Amapiano inherited decades later.
Quiz
In which decade did Kwaito music emerge as a major cultural movement in South Africa?
Quiz
Which Kwaito pioneer is credited with early electronic experiments that shaped South African dance music?
Quiz
Which Pretoria-based producer is widely credited with creating the Bacardi House genre?
Fun Fact
Zulu word meanings: The word 'Amapiano' literally translates to 'the pianos' in isiZulu, reflecting the acoustic and digital keyboard melodies at the core of the genre.
thabo Apartheid-Era Struggle Jazz
They banned our mixed bands, we played in the dark, our music was free.
Quiz
Which legendary South African jazz pianist used his music to fight against the apartheid regime?
Glossary
amapiano (noun)
A style of South African electronic dance music that blends deep house, jazz, and kwaito. The genre emerged during the early 2010s in the urban communities of Johannesburg and Pretoria.
A style of South African electronic dance music that blends deep house, jazz, and kwaito. The genre emerged during the early 2010s in the urban communities of Johannesburg and Pretoria.